Doctoral candidates have to submit the Progress Report every year after approval of the doctoral thesis agreement.  These reports constitute annexes to the doctoral thesis agreement. They must be evaluated by the supervisor(s) and signed by the student and the supervisor(s) before submission for approval by the doctoral study programme director.

The main purposes of the a) Progress Report and b) accompanying TAC Meeting Minutes are as follows: to assess progress, challenges or successes in the research and/or supervision relationship, necessary adjustments and/or changes, etc. It helps both doctoral candidates and their supervisors to keep track of the doctoral research project, to avoid pitfalls, or to resolve any challenges in the supervisory relationship and/or the research/training team.

a) Progress Report (form DZ/V2)

The doctoral study programme director will approve or reject the progress report or may request further information for approval. The annual progress report form (DZ/V2) asks for the following information:

  • Assessment of the dissertation project of the past year: milestones achieved, changes in research questions and methodological approaches, findings and results.
  • Outline of the research plan and planned milestones for the coming year, e.g. planned work steps, presentations at conferences or planned publications, also planned courses/workshops.
  • Specification of any changes/additions to the Doctoral Agreement.
  • Statement on the progress of the thesis from the supervisor's perspective.

b) TAC Meeting Minutes

The TAC meetings are a requirement for PhD candidates admitted after 2023S, and they are recommended for all of our doctoral students.

  • The role of the TAC is to provide advice and support to the doctoral candidate and to discuss and evaluate the progress of the dissertation through regular meetings with the doctoral candidate. In particular, the TAC provides external advice to the doctoral candidate and his/her supervisor(s). The TAC also provides formalised support for resolving any conflicts that may arise between the doctoral candidate, the supervisor(s) and other members of the research/training team.
  • The TAC meeting is organised by the doctoral candidate. In order to provide a basis for discussion, it is recommended that the doctoral candidate sends the completed progress report form (DZ/V2) and the (draft/submitted/published) peer-reviewed publications OR the monograph chapters by email to all TAC members at least two weeks before the meeting. The meetings are not open to the public and are chaired by a TAC member nominated by the doctoral student.
  • A written summary of each TAC meeting will be included with each Annual Progress Report.
  • Click here for more information on the role and composition of the TAC and the TAC meeting minutes template.

When do I need to report?

  • The first progress report is due one year after the approval of the doctoral thesis agreement, and every year thereafter.
  • EXAMPLE: The approval date is in February 2022, i.e. that the 1st annual report is due in February 2023 for the period Feb 2022 - Feb 2023, the 2nd report is due in February 2024, and so on.

Please send the reports to